Colts Win, Colts Win!

Well its official, Peyton Manning has gotten the monkey off his back. Trailing 34-31 and forced to punt the ball away following a horrendous 3 downs with just over 3 minutes or so to play. The Indianapolis Colts defense came through and forced a Patriots punt. Manning took over with just over 2 minutes remaining at their own 20 yard line. Manning marched down the field quickly and efficiently with pass after pass completed.
With 2:01 remaining Manning completed a short pass across the middle to Reggie Wayne for 14 yards but a roughing the passer (blow to the helmet) tacked on to the end of the play. A couple of Joseph Addai runs up the middle left the Colts with 3rd and 2 from the New England Patriots 3 yard line, a perfect time for the Colts signature play action pass to the end zone. That apparently is what the New England Patriots defense was thinking also, because they appeared completely surprised when Addai took his third straight hand-off right up the middle for the go ahead score. Follow the extra point, the Colt's prepared to kick off leading 38-34 with exactly 1:00 minute remaining.
Tom Brady took over with :54 seconds remaining and looked poised to march down the field for another of his miraculous last minute game winning drives. The Patriots marched quickly to mid-field and just were crossing into Colts territory with just over :20 seconds remaining. Brady lined up in the shot-gun formation and looked to Troy Brown over the middle to put them within striking distance for 4 plays into the end zone for the win. The often under estimated Colts defense stepped up, and Marlin Jackson picked off the pass to Brown ending the Patriots run at another Super Bowl appearance.
There were many big plays by many players on the Colts team on Sunday. Perhaps overlooked by the performances of Manning and Addai on the last drive were the plays throughout the day by the offensive line and Dominick Rhodes the Colts second running back. Rhodes carried the ball 14 times for 69 yards and caught 4 Manning passes for another 38 yards. Addai cleaned up the last possession, but Rhodes ball control kept the Colts moving and in the game throughout the day. Rhodes one slip up was a fumble at the goal line, which ended up in offensive center Jeff Saturday's hands for a Colts touch down. If we were giving out the game balls, Saturday and Rhodes would have shared it.
Congratulations go out to Coach Dungy and the Colts on a great AFC Championship! Thanks for a great season and an exciting championship game. Now just 'shuffle' the Bears out of Miami and bring that Lombardi Trophy home to Indianapolis.